JP2004171670A - Recording and reproducing device and recording and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously secure a data recording area as much as possible even when the size of data to be recorded is not decided, and to prevent an access speed from lowering due to dispersion of the data on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: At the head of a recording medium 10 for storing a moving picture recording/reproducing data such as a MPEG, in a system for storing a management data for managing the recording medium, a free area amount continuous with the leading address of each free area of the recording medium is pre-stored in this management data in a list form. In the case of recording data, the leading address of each free area and the list of the free area amount in the management data are referred to, and the free area amount is compared with the data amount to be recorded, and then recording is carried out with priority in a free area having a continuous area larger than the data amount. Thus, a data area is secured as continuously as possible, to prevent an access speed from being decreased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus and a recording and reproducing method for recording and reproducing moving image data on and from a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, magnetic recording tapes have been mainly used as recording media used in camcorders. Magnetic recording tapes are superior in terms of miniaturization when compared to disk-shaped recording media (disk media) such as HDDs (hard disk drives) and DVDs (digital versatile desks). Since the target recording position on the recording medium can be directly accessed without rewinding or fast-forwarding, it is disadvantageous in terms of accessibility.
In addition, data compression by moving image compression technology such as MPEG has been advanced, and HDDs and the like have recently been increasing in capacity and miniaturization. Therefore, it is required to apply a disk-shaped recording medium such as an HDD to a camcorder, and thereby it is possible to improve random access and convenience.
[0003]
On the other hand, in the recording and reproduction of moving image data, it is necessary to continuously record and reproduce data having a transfer rate that is somewhat stable. However, in disk media such as HDDs and DVDs, when access areas are dispersed, such as when fragmentation (fragmentation) occurs, a seek time of the head occurs, and the transfer rate is extremely reduced. There is.
Therefore, as a means for solving such a problem, it is determined whether the data is stream data or code data based on the attribute of the file to be written, and the write area is changed to change the write area to a continuous area of a certain length necessary for guaranteeing an input / output speed of a certain level or more. In order to avoid a decrease in the transfer rate, it is proposed that the writing be performed in such a manner (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-339202 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the input / output speed dynamically changes, the method of writing to a continuous area of a fixed length does not provide a sufficient input / output speed due to fragments. There is a problem that it is difficult to calculate a certain length.
Further, there is a problem that the division of the data area by the file attribute is not guaranteed when writing is performed by an external system.
[0006]
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to ensure a data recording area as continuously as possible even when the data size of data to be recorded is not determined, and to effectively prevent a reduction in access speed due to data distribution on a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method that can perform the above-mentioned operations.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording / reproducing unit for accessing a recording medium storing recording / reproducing data and recording or reproducing the recording / reproducing data, and a method for recording the recording / reproducing data on the recording medium. Recording control means for selecting a free area of a recording medium to execute a recording operation, and the recording medium has a recording area for storing recording and reproduction data, and at least an address of each free area in the recording medium. A management area for storing management data including a list of sizes is provided, and the recording control unit refers to the management data stored in the management area and compares the size of each free area with the amount of data to be recorded. Then, recording is preferentially performed in a vacant area having a size larger than the data amount.
[0008]
Further, the present invention provides a recording medium for storing recording / reproducing data, a recording area for storing recording / reproducing data, and a management area for storing at least management data including a list of addresses and sizes of respective free areas in the recording medium. When recording data on the recording medium, refer to the management data stored in the management area, compare the size of each free area with the amount of data to be recorded, and determine the size larger than the data amount. It is characterized in that recording is preferentially performed in a free area having the same.
[0009]
In the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, management data including a list of addresses and sizes of free areas in the recording medium is provided on a recording medium for storing the recording / reproducing data, and the data is recorded on the recording medium. At this time, the management data is referred to, the size of each free area is compared with the amount of data to be recorded, and recording is preferentially performed in a free area having a size larger than the data amount.
Therefore, even when the data size of the data to be recorded is not determined, a data recording area can be continuously secured as much as possible, and a reduction in access speed due to the dispersion of data on the recording medium can be effectively prevented. .
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method according to the present invention will be described.
The present embodiment is directed to a system for storing management data for managing the recording medium at the head of the recording medium for storing moving image recording / reproduction data such as MPEG. The address and size of the empty area (specifically, the amount of the empty area that is contiguous with the start address) are stored in a list format. When recording, the amount of the empty area is compared with the amount of data to be recorded. The recording is preferentially performed in an empty area having a large continuous area, so that the data area can be continuously secured as much as possible.
In the present embodiment, the list of continuous free space amounts and the list of continuous free space amounts in the management data is arranged and stored from the top of the list in descending order of the continuous free space continuous amount. I do.
[0011]
Further, in the present embodiment, when the amount of data to be recorded is larger than the maximum size of a continuous free area, the print data is divided and recorded using a plurality of free areas. As the free area used at this time, for example, a list of free areas is searched in order, and a plurality of free areas are selected and used in the search order (that is, the free area with the largest continuous free area amount).
Further, in the present embodiment, as the management data updating process, every time data is recorded on the recording medium, the data of the free area which has been lost or reduced by the recording is deleted or corrected from the list. Every time data is erased, a process of adding data of a free area generated by the erasure to a list is performed.
Further, in the present embodiment, every time data is recorded or erased, the total size of the free area after the data is changed by the recording or erasing is calculated, and the calculated result is provided in the management data of the recording medium. Processing to update data of the total size is performed.
[0012]
Hereinafter, a specific configuration and operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording format used in the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, in this example, an area (recording medium management information area 1) for writing information for managing the recording medium is provided on a disk type recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a recording medium or a disk). The recording medium management information area 1 is provided with an area (free area information 2) for describing free area information indicating a free area where no data is recorded.
[0013]
In the free area information area 2, a free area start address 3 indicating the position (address) of the free area and a free area continuous amount 4 indicating the continuous amount (size) of the free area are described. When there are a plurality of discontinuous free areas, a free area start address and a free area continuous amount corresponding to each of the discontinuous free areas are described.
Each free area information is arranged in descending order of the free area continuous amount, and the free area where the continuous amount of the free area has the same value is arranged in the order of the free area start address. The free space information is created when the disc is recognized.
The “free area on the disk” in the figure schematically shows this. The free area start address and free space continuation amount of # 1 is the value of free area # 1 on the disk, and the free area start address and free space continuation amount of # 2 is the value of free area # 2 on the disk. If the areas are discontinuous, there are as many pairs of the free area start address and the free area continuation amount as there are discontinuities in the free area.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this figure, the configuration of the recording system is mainly shown, and another configuration is used as the reproduction system. However, since the present invention mainly relates to the operation at the time of recording, the reproduction system has Details are omitted.
As shown in the figure, the disc recording / reproducing apparatus includes a user interface unit 5, a mode latch unit 6, a data amount counter unit 7, an input data buffer unit 8, an input data recording unit 9, a free space information reproducing unit 11, a free space head. It has an address latch unit 12, a free area address comparison unit 13, a free area continuous amount latch unit 14, a free area continuous amount comparison unit 15, a data amount comparison unit 16, a recording address generation unit 17, a free area information recording unit 18, and the like. It is configured.
Hereinafter, the operation by such a configuration will be described.
[0015]
The user interface unit 5 converts the mode selected by the user into a mode signal and transmits the mode signal to the mode latch unit 6. The mode latch section 6 sequentially holds the mode signal from the user interface section 5 and transmits the mode signal held at the time of the transmission request in accordance with the transmission request from the input data recording section 9.
Also, moving image data such as MPEG is input as input data, first passes through the data amount counter unit 7, and is temporarily stored in the input data buffer unit 8. The input data buffer unit 8 outputs the input data to the input data recording unit 9, and the input data recording unit 9 writes the input data on the recording medium 10 according to the recording address received from the recording address generation unit 17. Here, the recording address is generated before the input data recording unit 9 records the input data.
[0016]
The free area information reproducing unit 11 reads a list of the free area start address and the free area continuous amount in the free area information from the recording medium 10.
The read list is held in the free area start address latch unit 12 and the free area continuous amount latch unit 14. When receiving the input data, the data amount counter unit 7 counts the received input data amount and transmits the final value to the data amount comparison unit 16.
When the data amount comparison unit 16 receives the counter value, the free space continuous amount comparison unit 15 receives the free space continuous amount from the free space continuous amount latch unit 14 in order, and stores the free space continuous amount in order from the maximum value. It is transmitted to the quantity comparison unit 16.
The data amount comparison unit 16 compares the counter value received from the data amount counter unit 7 with the free space continuous amount received from the free space continuous amount latch unit 14, and transmits the result to the recording address generation unit 17.
[0017]
The free area address comparison unit 15 receives the free area address from the free area start address latch unit 12 at the same timing as when the free area continuous amount is read from the free area continuous amount latch unit 14, and compares the free area address with the previous recording address. The comparison result is transmitted to the recording address generation unit 17.
The recording address generation unit 17 determines a recording address from the size comparison result received from the data amount comparison unit 16 and the address comparison result received from the free area head address comparison unit 15, and transmits it to the input data recording unit 9. .
When the recording address generation unit 17 receives the timing of updating the free space information such as the mode transition and the end of the writing from the input data recording unit, the free address information recording unit 18 transmits the free space information to the free space information recording unit 18. 10 is recorded with free space information.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example when a transition is made to a mode relating to data recording in the present embodiment.
Here, there are three types of data recording modes: a Rec mode, a copy mode, and an edit mode. In the Rec mode, for example, data captured by a camera is compressed by an MPEG encoder, and is sequentially recorded. In the copy mode, data recorded on a recording medium is copied to another area. In the editing mode, partial selection and connection of data on a recording medium are performed.
[0019]
In FIG. 3, first, a mode is designated by the user via the user interface unit 5 (S19), and a mode signal is received from the user interface unit 5. Then, it is determined whether the mode specified by the mode signal is the Rec mode or any other mode (S20). Here, if it is determined that the mode is the Rec mode, a size indeterminate write operation is performed (S21).
When the user designates the end of the Rec mode via the user interface unit 5, the user interface unit 5 transmits a mode signal of the end of the Rec mode. Upon receiving the Rec mode end, the indeterminate size write operation ends (S22).
[0020]
If it is determined in S20 that the mode is other than the Rec mode, it is determined whether the mode is the copy mode or not (S23). If the mode is the copy mode, the data amount of the copy source is calculated (S24), and the size fixed writing is started (S25). Then, it is determined whether or not the writing amount has reached the calculated data amount (S26), and when it reaches, the writing ends.
If it is determined in S23 that the mode is other than the copy mode, it is determined whether the mode is the edit mode or the other mode (S27). Then, in the case of the edit mode, file connection information other than the mode signal is received from the user interface unit 5.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing information included in the file connection information. As shown in the figure, the file connection information is in a list format, and includes identification information, a file name, a file size, a read start address, a read end address, and the like. The read start address and the read end address indicate arbitrary addresses in the data area including the file data.
Then, the data amount from the read start address to the read end address is summed for all the files in the list to calculate the data amount of the data to be written after editing (S28).
When the calculation of the data amount is completed, size-determined writing is performed (S22), and it is determined whether or not the writing amount has reached the calculated data amount (S26).
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the size-determined write in this embodiment.
First, the free area information is read (S29), the continuous amount of the free area is compared with the write data amount (S30), and set to the first data (i = 0) of the free area information to be compared (S31). Then, the magnitude of the write data amount is compared (S32).
When the continuous area of the free area is larger than the write data amount, the free area information is sequentially read (i ← i + 1) and the comparison is repeated. Even if all the free area information is read, if the free area continuous amount is larger than the write data amount (S37), or if the free area continuous amount is smaller than the write data amount, the previous free area information (i-1) is added. Data is written to the corresponding free area (S38).
When the data has been written, the free space information is updated (S39), and the process ends. When the free space continuous amount is smaller than the write data amount and does not have a larger free space (S33), writing is performed on the free space having the largest free space continuous amount (S34).
When the writing to the free space is completed, a value obtained by subtracting the continuous free space amount from the original data amount is set as a new data amount (S35), and after the free space information is updated (S36), the writing process is performed again. , Until the write data is completed.
[0023]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the size indeterminate write operation in the present embodiment. Note that the operation of this example is based on the premise that write data of indeterminate size is received for each fixed data amount and the determination is performed.
First, the free area information is read out (S40), and the one with the largest free area continuous amount, that is, the head address of the free area at the head of the free area information list is detected (S41).
Then, it is confirmed that there is write data (S42), the write data is received (S43), and data writing is performed (S44). When the data writing is completed, it is determined whether or not there is a free area (S45). If not, the free area information is updated to select a new free area (S46). Repeat writing.
When the write data is completed, the amount of data written last is calculated (S47), and a search is made from the free space information to determine whether another free space suitable for the data amount exists. If the data exists, the data is copied to the detected empty area, and the size is determined and written (S48). After the completion of the size-determined writing, the copy source data is erased (S49), and the writing is terminated.
[0024]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of data at the time of the above-described size-determined writing.
It is assumed that the data to be written has a size of 1110, and the list of free area information has a format in which the head address and the continuous amount are connected by a mark as shown in the figure (note that the numerical value is a hexadecimal number). ).
When writing data, the data amount 1110 to be written is compared with the data size of each free area in the list from the beginning.
In the illustrated example, the amount of data to be written is
1200>1110> 1100
In this case, the free area “0x00001000 @ 1200” which is larger than the data amount and is the closest size is selected.
[0025]
Then, after writing this data, the free space information is updated. That is, since the free area “0x00001000 @ 1200” is filled with the current write data, the start address of the remaining free area is
0x00001000 + 0x1110 = 0x00002110
And the free space size is
1200-1110 = 00f0
It becomes. That is, the free area information added by updating the list is “0x00002110 ＠ 00f0”.
Therefore, "0x00001000 @ 1200" in the original list shown in FIG. 7A is deleted, and "0x00002110 @ 00f0" is newly added as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, the list is sorted again in the order of the free space continuation amount, and the new free space information added with “0x00002110 ＠ 00f0” is written back to the recording medium.
As described above, the free space that has been lost or reduced by the recording on the recording medium is deleted or corrected from the list, the data of the free area generated by erasing the data from the recording medium is added to the list, and the recording or erasing is further performed. By updating the total size of the free area after the fluctuation, the free area list is effectively managed, so that it is possible to effectively cope with, for example, a recording / reproducing apparatus of a method of exchanging recording media. .
[0026]
According to the present embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the data area is continuously provided, it is possible to prevent a reduction in access speed due to the distribution of data on the recording medium.
(2) Even if the data size is not determined, by securing the data area as continuously as possible, the input / output speed of the disk can be made to correspond to the fluctuation of the access speed, and a smooth writing operation can be realized. .
Note that the specific procedure of the above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that other procedures can be taken. Various extensions are also possible for the data to be handled and the encoding method.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, the recording medium for storing the recording / reproducing data is provided with the management data including the address and size list of each free area in the recording medium, When recording data on a recording medium, the management data is referred to, the size of each free area is compared with the amount of data to be recorded, and recording is preferentially performed on a free area having a size larger than the data amount. Therefore, even when the data size of the data to be recorded is not fixed, the data recording area can be continuously secured as much as possible, and it is possible to effectively prevent a reduction in access speed due to the dispersion of the data on the recording medium. There is an effect that can be done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a data recording format of a recording medium used in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a disk recording / reproducing apparatus using the recording medium shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing example when a transition is made to a mode relating to data recording in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing information included in file connection information used in the processing shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a size-determined write operation in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an indeterminate size writing operation in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data at the time of size-determined writing in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... recording media management information area, 2 ... free area information, 3 ... free area start address, 4 ... free area continuous amount, 5 ... user interface section, 6 ... mode latch section, 7 ... data Quantity counter section, 8 input data buffer section, 9 input data recording section, 10 recording medium, 11 free area information reproducing section, 12 free area start address latch section, 13 free area Address comparing unit, 14: free area continuous amount latch unit, 15: free area continuous amount comparing unit, 16: data amount comparing unit, 17: recording address generating unit, 18: free area information recording unit.

Claims (18)

A recording / reproducing means for accessing a recording medium storing the recording / reproducing data and recording or reproducing the recording / reproducing data;
Recording control means for selecting a free area of the recording medium and performing a recording operation when recording and reproducing data on the recording medium,
The recording medium is provided with a recording area for storing recording and reproduction data, and a management area for storing management data including a list of addresses and sizes of at least each free area in the recording medium,
The recording control unit refers to management data stored in the management area, compares the size of each free area with the amount of data to be recorded, and preferentially records data in a free area having a size larger than the data amount. I do,
A recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data of each free area is arranged and stored in the list in an order of a free area having a large size. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording control means divides and records the recording data using a plurality of free areas when the amount of data to be recorded is larger than the maximum size in the list. apparatus. The recording control means, when the amount of data to be recorded is larger than the maximum size in the list, selects a plurality of free areas in descending order of the size, and records the divided recording data. 3. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to 3. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit deletes or corrects data of a free area which has been lost or reduced by the recording every time data is recorded on the recording medium. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each time the recording control unit deletes data on the recording medium, the recording control unit adds data of a free area generated by the deletion to the list. Each time data is recorded or erased, the recording control means calculates the total size of the free space after the recording or erasing, and calculates the total size provided in the management data of the recording medium according to the calculation result. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data is updated. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording / reproducing data is moving image data compressed by a predetermined encoding. 9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined encoding is MPEG encoding. A recording medium for storing the recording / reproducing data is provided with a recording area for storing the recording / reproducing data, and a management area for storing management data including a list of addresses and sizes of at least each free area in the recording medium,
When recording data on the recording medium, refer to the management data stored in the management area, compare the size of each free area with the amount of data to be recorded, and check the free area having a size larger than the data amount. Priority recording
A recording / reproducing method characterized in that: 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein data of each free area is arranged and stored in the list in an order of a free area having a large size. 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein when the amount of data to be recorded is larger than the maximum size in the list, the recording data is divided and recorded using a plurality of free areas. 13. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 12, wherein when the amount of data to be recorded is larger than the maximum size in the list, a plurality of free areas are selected in descending order of the size, and the recording data is divided and recorded. . 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein each time data is recorded on the recording medium, data in a free area which has been lost or reduced by the recording is deleted or corrected from the list. 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein each time data on the recording medium is deleted, data of a free area generated by the deletion is added to the list. Every time data is recorded or erased on the recording medium, the total size of the free space after the recording or erasing is calculated, and the total size provided in the management data of the recording medium is calculated based on the calculation result. 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein said data is updated. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein the recording / reproducing data is moving image data compressed by a predetermined encoding. 18. The recording and reproducing method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined encoding is MPEG encoding.

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